How bad is it to leave Mooney outside in East Bay area for 4 months?

[AndreiC]

Hello fellow Mooney owners,

I am in the Bay Area (Berkeley) for 4 months, and brought my 1970 M20E with me. It seems virtually impossible to find a hangar anywhere around here, especially for a 4 month period, so I decided to tie down at KCCR (Concord). The plane will stay with a cockpit cover on all the time, and I expect to fly it every week or every other week for 2-3 hours. Given all the rain that is coming down almost all the time,. is corrosion something to be worried about? The cover keeps most of the water away, and all the door and windows seals are good, so no water penetration in the cabin.

(I am writing this because of recent posts of people finding corrosion in wings, etc. My recent PPI and annual inspection -- done in separate places -- have not found any corrosion, and I'd like to keep it that way.)

Thanks! Andrei.

P.S. People who are in the Bay Area -- do you have recommendations for experienced Mooney mechanics? I will probably need someone to look at my prop governor and especially how its control cable is routed at some point.

[N201MKTurbo]

I was at a trade show in downtown SF on Wednesday the rain was coming down pretty heavy.

I wouldn't worry about the rain, it will wash all the salt off. It should be fine for 4 months. Especially if you fly it. Flying for an hour or so will dry the plane out pretty well.

[MB65E]

Hi. Was there 2x this week. Check with the manager over at the Discovery hangar. He might make you a deal. Scott is his name. Super nice guy. 
We bought a Falcon from his principle. Concord Jet has also been super helpful. 
-Matt

[201Mooniac]

I wouldn't worry for 4 months, my plane was outdoors at SJC with just a cover for 4 years.  As for a mechanic, Top Gun in Stockton (KSCK) is the local Mooney expert.  Call and talk to Mark about whatever you need done.

[A64Pilot]

If you have the inside of the wings sprayed with Corrosion-X every few years you can just about forget about corrosion at least in the wings anyway.

From what I have seen Mooney’s aren’t well corrosion protected in the build, anything you can do is likely worth doing.

[PT20J]

I owned a 1978 J for 7 years tied down at KJSC. It was 8 years old when I bought it and it had always been outside. The only issue it ever had with corrosion was that the previous owner should have replaced the pilot’s window seal because it had leaked and corroded a tube I had to have replaced at my first annual inspection. So, if your doors and windows don’t leak, you’ll be fine. 

[OR75]

maybe worth checking for hangar space in Tracy or Stockton 

Livermore may have a shade hangar available  

Edited February 3, 2024 by OR75